t 87 } 
JX. An Account of the Ganges ahd Burrampooler Rivers, Bf 
James Rennell, Efq, F, R* S . ; communicated by Jofeph 
Banks, Efq. P . R . S. 
Read January 25, 1781, 
T HE * Ganges and f Burrampooter Rivers, together with 
their numerous branches and adjuncts, interfeCt the 
country of Bengal in fuch a variety of directions, as to form 
the moft compleat and eafy inland navigation that can be con- 
ceived. So equally and admirably aiffufed are thofe natural 
canals, over a country that approaches nearly to a perfeCt plane, 
that, after excepting the lands contiguous to Burdwan, Bir- 
boom, &c. (which altogether do not conftitute a fixth part of 
Bengal) we may fairly pronounce, that every other part of the 
country has, even in the dry feafon, fome navigable ft ream 
within 25 miles at fartheft, and more commonly within a third 
part of that diftance. 
It is fuppofed, that this inland navigation gives conftant em- 
ployment to 30,000 boatmen. Nor will it be wondered at, 
when it is known, that all the fait, and a large proportion of the 
* The proper name of this river in the language of Hindooftan (or Indoftan) 
is Pudda or Padda. It is alfo named Burra* Gonga, or the Great River; and 
Gonga, the River, by way of eminence ; and from this, doubtlefs, the European 
names of the river are derived. 
f The orthography of this word, as given here, is according to the common 
pronunciation in Bengal but it is faid to be written in the Sanfcrit language, 
Brahma-pootar, which fignifies the Son f Brahma. 
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